tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73879845711681009782018-03-02T18:38:11.786+02:00Alone in Holy LandAlone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.comBlogger389125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-1223062850832631992012-06-05T13:00:00.000+02:002012-06-05T13:00:01.392+02:00Maya is six today!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZASTcl2NYSI/T83lCwSr0dI/AAAAAAAABnc/8Q6IStWhrhk/s1600/P1040117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZASTcl2NYSI/T83lCwSr0dI/AAAAAAAABnc/8Q6IStWhrhk/s320/P1040117.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />It is so hard for me to believe that my daughter is six years old! Oh God, how time flies...<br />Each day I praise the Lord for making me the happiest mummy in the world, the most blessed...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6sM9GFBAQRs/T83kGHnBOpI/AAAAAAAABnI/WvdvwS2eY9Y/s1600/P1040066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6sM9GFBAQRs/T83kGHnBOpI/AAAAAAAABnI/WvdvwS2eY9Y/s320/P1040066.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ecfywDBV2TA/T83kp_XsQKI/AAAAAAAABnQ/dCH-wICmLk0/s1600/P1030797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ecfywDBV2TA/T83kp_XsQKI/AAAAAAAABnQ/dCH-wICmLk0/s320/P1030797.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dGErN-xQr48/T83lXTiHb1I/AAAAAAAABnk/IlzVnz0YFFo/s1600/P1040090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dGErN-xQr48/T83lXTiHb1I/AAAAAAAABnk/IlzVnz0YFFo/s320/P1040090.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-svr2AIGS-8Y/T83l1pSp1YI/AAAAAAAABns/fWEOQgWXwFA/s1600/P1040068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-svr2AIGS-8Y/T83l1pSp1YI/AAAAAAAABns/fWEOQgWXwFA/s320/P1040068.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And even if she doesn't have a brother or sister to play with (as her brother is 26) she has Dasha, her cat...as you can see, they are together all the time...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy birthday, Maya! May your life be filled with laughter, happiness and joy!</div>Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-77705641045461900662012-05-29T12:36:00.001+02:002012-05-29T12:36:34.245+02:00Awarded!The wonderful Deidra from<a href="http://astorybookworld.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> A Storybook World</a> honored me with this fantastic award:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r45H7-ZczaE/T8SlITSOVdI/AAAAAAAABlk/U_cTiQAnXnU/s1600/powerfulwomanwriteraward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r45H7-ZczaE/T8SlITSOVdI/AAAAAAAABlk/U_cTiQAnXnU/s320/powerfulwomanwriteraward.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br />Deidra is a professional writer and illustrator (the author of seven novels)<br />&nbsp;as well as a professional speaker in various venues. In her words: <br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Aside from helping other authors reach their dreams, Deirdra enjoys jousting in arenas, planning invasions, singing Celtic songs, horseback riding through open meadows, swimming in the ocean, hiking up mountains, camping in cool shady woods, climbing trees barefoot, going on adventures, and all forms of art, including martial arts."</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you so much Deidra, I really needed this to remind me of my path...as I am easily distracted by whatever Fate throws in my way...</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><br />Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-1789490314820137712012-05-28T12:40:00.000+02:002012-05-28T12:40:12.431+02:00Alphabet BathI thought that the coming of summer will mean less sick days for Maya...and of course, I was wrong. Last week she began feeling bad and ended up having a very high fever for two days and nights. Believe me, it was so scarry! Her fever wouldn't go down for more than, lets say,&nbsp; one hour and then would spike up again.. It is most&nbsp;frustrating not to be able to help your child and to watch her going limp and feverish....The only thing that helped were long baths and we were lucky she likes water. And in order to make her stay in the bath longer&nbsp;I put into the water foam letters,&nbsp;in the beginning the ones&nbsp;in Hebrew, then added the latin ones as well, and numbers and all kinds of foam stickers and so we played , makking "alphabet soup" and fishing , even if it was 3 o'clock in the morning.<br />Now she is better, my sweet daughter and I wait for the summer holiday more that she does...&nbsp;<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-41IBPu5kfIE/T8NTJMp-K0I/AAAAAAAABk4/q8pC2NBY6Q0/s1600/23052012239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-41IBPu5kfIE/T8NTJMp-K0I/AAAAAAAABk4/q8pC2NBY6Q0/s320/23052012239.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Unfortunately, before this, something even worse happened...but about that, next time, now I have to go and play with Maya...<br />Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-56001423953905157502012-05-06T17:07:00.000+02:002012-05-28T12:01:54.859+02:00I Am So Worried<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j6QhIcBd4-Q/T6aTHMkGDPI/AAAAAAAABh8/gis9EKyQ6Gw/s1600/crime_scene.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j6QhIcBd4-Q/T6aTHMkGDPI/AAAAAAAABh8/gis9EKyQ6Gw/s1600/crime_scene.png" /></a></div><br /><br />When I woke up this morning....it was just a usual Sunday morning: I was sick, my daughter was complaining of a tummy ache, the car wouldn't start, you know, the normal beginning of the week.<br />But then, I turned on my PC to read the news on line and everything changed...for the worse...I woke up to find out that we had the most bloodiest week-end ever, here, in Israel. No less than five murders had taken place, and in most cases, the criminals were young men. For example, in Beer Sheva, a 36 old man was stabbed by a group of youths, after he asked them to tone down the noise they were making...In Rehovot, another young man was chased in a public garden by other youngsters and was stabbed to death, in...but I'll stop here. <br />I am absolutely speechless. And worried. Since arriving here, 12 years ago, I witnessed the trasnformation of the Israeli society, from a nation of hot headed, proud and a bit naive people, into a society where violence is seeping&nbsp;into the everyday life like a most deadly virus. The Israeli youth is very violent and out of control, there is a big problem with the alcoohol consumption and so on.<br />I had been a&nbsp;high school teacher here and believe me, I know what I am talking about. One of my students, a sweet Russian girl was killed by her Turkish boyfriend, and she was&nbsp;17...I still remember her&nbsp;smile...<br />And nobody is doing anything. I haven't seen&nbsp;policemen on the streets, on civil guards or anything...I am afraid to go outside at night because near our building we have a small park and every night teenagers&nbsp;go there and get&nbsp;drunk and sometimes I hear them shouting at each other in the wee hours of the morning...<br />I&nbsp;am a parent, I have two children...and even if my son is 26, I still worry for him ....As for my 5 years old daughter... Sometimes I blame myself for bringing her into this world...What should I teach her? What should I expect from the future?<br />I do what I have to do as a parent, a try to raise her the best I can...but what about the others? What about the society? <br />I was always a law abiding citizen&nbsp;and I was surprised, to say the least, when I learned about the attitude Israelis have towards the law...you know, if nobody catches you red handed....you're a good citizen, right? Well, this atitude came now and bit their backsides, if you'll excuse my French. All that live and let live became a huge national problem, because it is now translated into something entirely different, and it has FAILURE written all over it.<br />I know, there is the national security problems and the world wide crisis and we have the settlements and the religious and the extremists and the foreign workers, and so many problems, real or invented and blown out of proportion that we forgot what is happening in our back&nbsp;garden...<br />I am not going to say more, because I don't really know what is to be said, just read this article and weep. I did it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israel-shaken-by-five-murders-in-one-weekend-1.428504" target="_blank">http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israel-shaken-by-five-murders-in-one-weekend-1.428504</a><br /><br /><br /><br />Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-57133388750926424582012-04-15T12:03:00.000+02:002012-04-15T12:03:10.766+02:00Memories of Easters Past<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">As here in Israel today is a working, normal day, after I took Maya to the kindy (and I regret it now, I should’ve keep her at home with me, maybe I would've felt better), I ate alone my Easter brunch and remembered the ones from my childhood – the only nice memories that I have about holidays. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">I recall&nbsp;our Easter breakfasts,&nbsp;our small kitchen and us, the four kids, around it, and the table heavy with food: dyed eggs, ham, spring onions, radishes, Romanian ricotta – "urda", the best ricotta there is, and "kash" – hard, unsalted cheese made from sheep’s milk and the home-made bread with a thick, crunchy crust.&nbsp;And the lunches, even better, sorrel soup with lamb and rice, stuffed lamb with new potatoes and lettuce. Then, the pound cakes, sweet and filled with nuts and sugar...&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">After I grew up and left home Easter was never the same and now I’ve lost hope that it would ever be. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">My husband, desperate to see me so&nbsp;sad and depressed every major Christian holiday keeps asking me what would really made me happy…And the truth is, I don’t know… I am aware that I cannot move back time and re-live the good times. I am stuck here, in limbo, between the past that haunts me&nbsp;and the present that doesn’t suit me at all.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times;">But, enough of this, today is Easter and I going to wait until Maya gets home from the kindy and then we'll clink and knock Easter eggs until their shells break and we'll say "Christos a Inviat" - "Christ has risen" and I'm sure Maya will want to draw a picture of us...And we'll invent our own traditions, because I want Maya to have happy childhood memories too...</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VlxRZbGc7ao/T4qcbXxPywI/AAAAAAAABdo/aWlXK6xJPzo/s1600/P1030784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VlxRZbGc7ao/T4qcbXxPywI/AAAAAAAABdo/aWlXK6xJPzo/s320/P1030784.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Times, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"> </span>Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-5790802358685564792012-04-13T18:24:00.001+02:002012-04-13T18:24:29.620+02:00Happy Easter!<br />As we celebrate the Orthodox Easter, we dyed the eggs today, Maya was so happy! The package that Agy, <a href="http://aloneinholyland.blogspot.com/2011/12/she-is-my-guardian-angel.html" target="_blank">my guardian angel</a> has sent us didn't arrive yet ("Thank you", Israel&nbsp;Post) but I had some dye from last year so no problems here.&nbsp;<br />This year we didn't bake any cake so I bought some Kulich - that's a Russian sweet bread made especially for Easter that got the thumbs up from Maya.<br />It is dificult to be far away from my family, and I feel this especially at holidays...but I am thankful for what I've got, and that's my children and my husband and the hope that some day...<br /><br />Happy Easter!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TfgmUWD9u28/T4hS3Bpt0KI/AAAAAAAABdI/WPqzQ8CtO5M/s1600/P1040034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TfgmUWD9u28/T4hS3Bpt0KI/AAAAAAAABdI/WPqzQ8CtO5M/s320/P1040034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wNskLdX8RXU/T4hTKTtU8yI/AAAAAAAABdQ/GG1CxcGXrNQ/s1600/P1040029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wNskLdX8RXU/T4hTKTtU8yI/AAAAAAAABdQ/GG1CxcGXrNQ/s320/P1040029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-48070873916822198002012-03-30T18:07:00.001+02:002012-03-30T18:07:21.911+02:00North...in the Footsteps of Jesus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-07bJd7IjEbk/T3XPSjrxebI/AAAAAAAABY8/NxM2BOnpGs4/s1600/P1030815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-07bJd7IjEbk/T3XPSjrxebI/AAAAAAAABY8/NxM2BOnpGs4/s320/P1030815.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Last week I had a welcomed respite from all the stress of the past month, as we travelled to the North, in the Galilee. We stayed in Tiberias and visited the Christian holy places scattered on the shore of The Sea of Galilee - Lake Kineret for israelis.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OggeWz8kgl4/T3XPkHdngxI/AAAAAAAABZE/UYYNTZUJ1eY/s1600/P1030814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OggeWz8kgl4/T3XPkHdngxI/AAAAAAAABZE/UYYNTZUJ1eY/s320/P1030814.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We started our journey at Tabgha, you know, the place where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes as to feed five thousand people. That's the name of the church that was built on the site, The Church of Multiplication,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hBCYaeRIo54/T3XP_SIwE7I/AAAAAAAABZM/-mKY7c1L2rQ/s1600/P1030843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hBCYaeRIo54/T3XP_SIwE7I/AAAAAAAABZM/-mKY7c1L2rQ/s320/P1030843.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">where we lit candles</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bw7TAk0Kf_8/T3XQuadjxEI/AAAAAAAABZc/Ul7E1RwcPFc/s1600/P1030841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bw7TAk0Kf_8/T3XQuadjxEI/AAAAAAAABZc/Ul7E1RwcPFc/s320/P1030841.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and&nbsp;we admired the well conserved mosaics</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KrAMeUNhMNs/T3XQam1wweI/AAAAAAAABZU/q6MUZmlfOjA/s1600/P1030840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KrAMeUNhMNs/T3XQam1wweI/AAAAAAAABZU/q6MUZmlfOjA/s320/P1030840.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Then, to Capernaum, where we had a special host, as you may see, much to Maya's joy...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xqBNONhK2eM/T3XRbxFTisI/AAAAAAAABZk/5UCPM6N1rk8/s1600/P1030847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xqBNONhK2eM/T3XRbxFTisI/AAAAAAAABZk/5UCPM6N1rk8/s320/P1030847.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aSXclqLDbIE/T3XSJUhvhkI/AAAAAAAABZs/Ect4gewf1gA/s1600/P1030855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aSXclqLDbIE/T3XSJUhvhkI/AAAAAAAABZs/Ect4gewf1gA/s320/P1030855.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Peter's church was closed, so we had to do with the ancient synagogue.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--cUKXkt0uzI/T3XSgYm21dI/AAAAAAAABZ0/L61E_E6O12U/s1600/P1030863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--cUKXkt0uzI/T3XSgYm21dI/AAAAAAAABZ0/L61E_E6O12U/s320/P1030863.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />And of course, Maya was there...it fascinated me, my daughter near those ancient stones...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TpaZ3sDWGdM/T3XTAmJ95CI/AAAAAAAABZ8/CoEAewFxpvw/s1600/P1030861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TpaZ3sDWGdM/T3XTAmJ95CI/AAAAAAAABZ8/CoEAewFxpvw/s320/P1030861.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Capernaum was fantastic, so much history and Judaism and Christianity blended together...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3AQld8RaO_I/T3XTceAaBII/AAAAAAAABaE/F6GBUYCDpB4/s1600/P1030867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3AQld8RaO_I/T3XTceAaBII/AAAAAAAABaE/F6GBUYCDpB4/s320/P1030867.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />But for me, the real surprise was the discovery of this gem, The Church of the Twelve Apostles, an Orthodox church and a fascinating place...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FFYK34oZBdk/T3XUBnDeaYI/AAAAAAAABaM/fqVyhpRHkR0/s1600/P1030902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FFYK34oZBdk/T3XUBnDeaYI/AAAAAAAABaM/fqVyhpRHkR0/s320/P1030902.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1vyNX3mIxU/T3XUUfAV78I/AAAAAAAABaU/CM_mzl0WlS0/s1600/P1030900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1vyNX3mIxU/T3XUUfAV78I/AAAAAAAABaU/CM_mzl0WlS0/s320/P1030900.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NuPwmt-Y2OY/T3XUqIOsEDI/AAAAAAAABac/O8wGUq3bZHk/s1600/P1030898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NuPwmt-Y2OY/T3XUqIOsEDI/AAAAAAAABac/O8wGUq3bZHk/s320/P1030898.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EvuLkYHoDdY/T3XU7MBBQeI/AAAAAAAABak/5Z6f7pDd5jk/s1600/P1030914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EvuLkYHoDdY/T3XU7MBBQeI/AAAAAAAABak/5Z6f7pDd5jk/s320/P1030914.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C8ZIIGGpk_4/T3XVNoD7VgI/AAAAAAAABas/sfQhiBTo3-M/s1600/P1030916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C8ZIIGGpk_4/T3XVNoD7VgI/AAAAAAAABas/sfQhiBTo3-M/s320/P1030916.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YU5goptzjKc/T3XVfOTyYXI/AAAAAAAABa0/hB7rw0-aCgQ/s1600/P1030897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YU5goptzjKc/T3XVfOTyYXI/AAAAAAAABa0/hB7rw0-aCgQ/s320/P1030897.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>From there, of course, we went to the Mount of Beautitudes where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1h-XFJScVuo/T3XWI0SKgZI/AAAAAAAABa8/UVbnY_apRR0/s1600/P1030928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1h-XFJScVuo/T3XWI0SKgZI/AAAAAAAABa8/UVbnY_apRR0/s320/P1030928.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P3lKthuAGVc/T3XWkP76KpI/AAAAAAAABbI/zrhetF72v-c/s1600/P1030922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P3lKthuAGVc/T3XWkP76KpI/AAAAAAAABbI/zrhetF72v-c/s320/P1030922.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-awko9AkA2zM/T3XW09W-cYI/AAAAAAAABbQ/2Pbot9E3sjA/s1600/P1030930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-awko9AkA2zM/T3XW09W-cYI/AAAAAAAABbQ/2Pbot9E3sjA/s320/P1030930.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />All in all, it was great and I got the chance to recharge my "spiritual" batteries, to last me until summer...<br /><br />Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-41888621740775608242012-03-14T12:59:00.000+02:002012-03-14T12:59:28.335+02:00I Don't Want To Be a Hero....just to protect my daughterIt is quiet today, almost eerie I may say...We are "back to normal", "back to the routine", children are returning to schools and kindergartens. Well, not&nbsp; mine. Maya is still at home. If today it will contniue to be quiet, witout alarms and rockets falling, I could take into consideration sending her to kindy tomorow. I just cannot forget easily. The events of the past days still linger in my conscience and I know for the next week we'll jump whenever we'll hear a louder sound and Maya will put her slippers near the entrance door, "just in case of a night alarm".<br /><br />So, even if we suffer from cabin fever and the weather is nice&nbsp;we will stay indoors&nbsp;today. I don't want to be a hero, you see. I don't want to pretend everything is OK, because it isn't. It is not OK to live between aerian attack alarms, to have my live lived at the mercy of every rocket thrower in the Gaza strip. and to be very clear: they are terrorist. They terrorize my days and my nights and no matter what our government say, they have won this time. They send over 200 rockets and misiles to Israel, keeping a million people in their houses and shelters for four days.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, I am not for violence or war, God forbid, but I cannot also agree to live in this conditions until...until when, exactly?<br /><br />This state, this world has leaders and I want them to sit and analyse and solve this situation, once and for all. For the sake of our children, for the future of this world...<br />And yes, I am writing about this and continue to write until I bore you all into action, because I am sick and tired of being by myself here,in this corner of the blogosphere ...I don't want your pity...just to hear me out and try to understand...and lend a shoulder....<br /> <br />I am linking it to Shel's&nbsp;"Pour Your Heart Out" <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thingsicantsay.com/2012/03/pour-your-heart-out-second-anniversary.html#comment-104712" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dyHPt3hAhBk/T2B4xDs2sCI/AAAAAAAABVc/CtZ1Y9pyyPI/s1600/pouryourheart1-e1328022968330.png" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Check it out, it is awesome!Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-79458475657543187452012-03-12T18:01:00.000+02:002012-03-30T19:35:56.324+02:00A Rocket Fell Near My HouseWhat can I say, instead of the situation being better, it is worse...Today at noon a rocket fell near our building. We heard the huge boom and the building shook and filled with dust. We heard ambulances and the firefighters and I became histerical...three years ago another rocket fell on the building near ours and since then I panick whenever I hear the siren sounding a rocket attack.<br />I am so stressed my thoughts are sluggish and my whole body hurts. On top of everything, I've got the flu and I feel like s**t. Moreover, the fact that I have to run in the middle of the night in my pj's out the apartment in the stairway - it is safer than in our apartment, it doesn't help my illness. <br />I don't want to live like this anymore!!!<br />I want to be able to go out whanever I want, and not being afraid that a rocket will fall on my head. I want my daughter to have a normal childhood, I don't want her to know what is the "Iron Dome" or a Grad rocket, I don't want her to run whenever she hears a siren. I don't want to get used to this!!! I want the terror to stop...<br />I am watching the people that are working across the street, cleaning the mess the rocket left - all the shops' windows were shattered. When, I few hours ago we had another alarm, they run seeking shelter, and then continued with their task...<br />Somebody from the Mayor's office called us to ask if we need assistance, if Maya is OK. People are fantastic, working under this conditions.<br />I am scared and I ask myself, am I a coward to be afraid for my life and my daughter's?<br /><br />Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-16168783735676861932012-03-11T11:37:00.000+02:002012-03-11T11:37:59.216+02:00About Rockets, Mantras and All What's in BetweenI know...it has been a long time since I've been here. To tell you I have some excuses it would be lame, still...The month of February was "Sick Maya" time, and it continued up to the first week in March. My baby was sick, took antibiotics two times, and was coughing&nbsp;really bad. And you know me, my daughter is sick, I am sick. In between ilnesses I tried to write that God damned book I am working so hard at...it is like a curse, to finish the book....to finish the book, my new mantra.<br />Now I am the one with a bad case of flu, I think all the viruses Maya brought home from&nbsp;the kindy have finally caught up with me.<br />Oh, and the alarms...since Friday evening, we are bombed continuously,&nbsp;and if you remeber I said we don't have a "secure room" in the apartment, so we have to go outside the apartment in the stairway. During the day is OK, as we socialize with the neighbours, but at midnight,&nbsp;with Maya sleeping in my husband's arms, trembling from fear ans cold...not so much fun. So, my other mantra is "stay calm and don't panic for the sake of your child". The truth? I had enough! I am a non-violent person and all, but seriously...I don't want my life and my family's to be controlled by terrorists. It is like I am at their good will. They come home from the mosque, take the rocked thrower from the shed and play eenie-meenie to decide&nbsp;where to send the next Grad. And if it's Ashdod, well, bad luck for us...<br />But, concretely or "tachles" as they say&nbsp;in Hebrew, what can a simple person like me do? Besides trying to protect my sanity and my daughter? I dream of living on an island in the middle of the ocean...only with my luck, a tsunami would hit me there...<br />That's it for today. I will be writing more if, hopefully, we'll get out unscathed from this last Palestinian - Israeli confrontation. Even poor Dasha, the cat, is terrified when the siren sounds. She runs in zig-zag and hides under the bed and it took up the habit of sleeping with us...<br /><br /><br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-46968166389617515912012-02-14T12:49:00.000+02:002012-02-14T12:49:26.590+02:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-luWpYUNComA/Tzo6jJW0QJI/AAAAAAAABVI/mjt7xFEkXnY/s1600/P1030633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-luWpYUNComA/Tzo6jJW0QJI/AAAAAAAABVI/mjt7xFEkXnY/s320/P1030633.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I've been busy these past days, weeks, busy writing, sulking, being sick, taking care of Maya that was at home, with a sore throat and coughing.<br />But today things started looking up...and how could not, when I have this beautiful face and these gorgeous eyes to gaze into...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aLR69CV_pVU/Tzo8BWIgMPI/AAAAAAAABVQ/femGLtxqweM/s1600/P1030668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aLR69CV_pVU/Tzo8BWIgMPI/AAAAAAAABVQ/femGLtxqweM/s320/P1030668.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-76966502274052567532012-01-31T11:02:00.000+02:002012-01-31T11:02:08.075+02:00Today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DdvxyEwn0bk/Tyetk_8UOlI/AAAAAAAABVA/tCGMM0evy0c/s1600/26-candle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DdvxyEwn0bk/Tyetk_8UOlI/AAAAAAAABVA/tCGMM0evy0c/s320/26-candle.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><br />Today I am happy...and sad...and because of this mixture of feelings that makes me one moment cry and the other grin like crazy, I am here, to share this state of mind of mine with you...<br />Why, you'll probably ask...<br />Well, because today it is my son's birthday! His is 26! Twenty -six, can you imagine that? My sweet, quiet and thoughtful boy is TWENTY SIX years old today!<br />Unbelievable...and still...<br />I remember like it was yesterday, the day I gave birth to him...It was a cold January, with&nbsp;a clear blue icy sky and a sun that gave you frostbite. When I took him home from the maternity he was bunddled in so many blankets, like a cocoon that whould become the most gorgeous buterfly, and my boots crunched on the frozen snow and I was so happy I could fly!<br />We went through a lot, me and my son. Since he was three and until he was 13 I raised him alone, me, a poor student that had to work to put food on the table, and he, the quiet and shy boy. We were a team and we succeded to live lots of happy years, even if it very hard sometimes. <br />And here we are now, mother and son, and he, a young man ready to fly, ready to live...and myself, torn between pride and sorrow, heaven and hell...<br />Happy birthday, my dear son!<br />May life by gentle with you and may you find happines and joy in all its moments...<br /><br /><br /><br />Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-26263575844885724972012-01-17T17:50:00.005+02:002012-01-17T17:50:48.365+02:00Simply Writing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NaPakYvhrT0/TxWYpOVH_3I/AAAAAAAABU4/j_c6c2S2X2o/s1600/writing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NaPakYvhrT0/TxWYpOVH_3I/AAAAAAAABU4/j_c6c2S2X2o/s320/writing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Yes, yes, I know, I've been AWOL for too long&nbsp; - more than&nbsp;two weeks...But I have a good explanation, I really do: I have been using all my free time WRITING. As you may know, I am working very hard at a fiction book I began writing a few years ago. It is actually my second book, the first book I wrote was published some fourteen years ago in Romania (I wrote it in Romanian, of course). It is a non-fiction book about Israel. As a journalist I had been many times in Israel and I grew to love this tiny, fierce country, so at some point I gathered all my notes and added some historical facts, geography and such and "Between the Wailing Wall and the Central Bus Station" was born. Then, I fell in love, got married and emigrated to Israel. Worked as a teacher and had my daughter, Maya...Caught in the sticky ropes of everyday living and struggling I forgot about writing...and then, suddenly, this idea popped in my head. And I began writing. It is not an easy process, believe me. I am writing in English and it is harder and more difficult than it would've been if I were writing it in Romanian.&nbsp;But I am getting there and I am not giving up.<br />So, there...my excuse...<br />Also, we had our share of seasonal sickness, my and Maya and we also had&nbsp;some crazy, floody,&nbsp;rainy days...<br />And now I am off...writing, of course...<br />&nbsp;Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-35963328085259677532012-01-01T16:14:00.001+02:002012-01-24T12:19:41.850+02:00What to Expect from a Five Year Old Child...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--gfK24atMJc/TwBz5iPDomI/AAAAAAAABUs/hbqC078ufWQ/s1600/girlfriends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--gfK24atMJc/TwBz5iPDomI/AAAAAAAABUs/hbqC078ufWQ/s320/girlfriends.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Needless to say that as a mother I always try to do my best when it comes to my children. Well, my son Darie is old enough to look after himself (although I am still doing his laundry) but I am talking here more about education, about giving them some values to live by. Maybe I am out-of-fashion with my ideas, but I do think that you have, for example, to teach your child to be polite and to greet the neighbours and so say "Good morning" when they enter the kindy and to say "Thank you" when they receive something.<br />Maye I am overreacting, maybe I exagerate, but please, hear me out first and give me an advice, please!<br />My question is, what to really expect from a, let say, 5 (almost 6) years old kid? And I am talking here about Maya's collegues and friends from the kindy. Maybe I am the one that asks too much from them, maybe I am the one that is raising a freak...polite and well behaved, but still a freak.<br />For example, Maya has a "friend" at the kindy, same age, they know each other since they were aproximately 3...When we went to Eilat, Maya wanted to buy her and another girl a present. We agreed about something small (and not so expensive) so we bought both of them sea-shell decorated boxes. Maya was so thrilled and so she gave them the pressies as soon as she returned to the kindy...Now, her so called friend gave the box to another girl, just like that...Nedless to say, Maya was very upset and kept telling me that and also asking me why did her friend what she did.&nbsp;I, for the love of God, didn't know what to say...I mean, they are 5 yo kiddos, but still...I don't exactly know what I babbled to Maya because I didn't want her to be hurting and I knew I couldn't discuss with her like I would with a grown up...Maybe I should've confront Maya's friend, but I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. Still, I am asking myself now, what on Earth made that girl pass on the present she received from Maya...<br />There is also another girl, they are going to the same kindy only from the beginning of this school-year but know each other since they were babies, as we are neighbours. They played together in the park a lot when they were small...now, somehow, they wanted to continue with the friendship...but now the girk doesn't want to play or even talk (!!!) to Maya! Why? Well, last week we got some tickets for a movie from my husband's workplace, as a Hanukkah gift. I didn't ask Maya not to tell at the kindy, so she told her "friend" about it...And now the girl is not talking to Maya because, as she says, Maya didn't invite her to the movie as well...&nbsp;and Maya tells me that she is always at her&nbsp; and making faces and refuses to talk or play with my daughter....Maya tried to explain that the tickets were a present and that the show was only for the people working with her dad. And truly, it was a kind of "closed door event" as we received popcorn, soft drinks, coffee and tea and doughnuts...&nbsp;Again, Maya is simply perplexed and sad, as she thought she had a friend in the respective girl...<br />So, what to do?<br />How to react?<br />What to expect from a five year old?<br />Is this kind of behaviour accepted for this age?<br />Am I ovverreacting?<br />Too many questions...and I really don't have the answers for them.<br />Nedless to say, my daughter is upset and it breaks my heart to see her hurting...<br /><br />Please help me out and tell me what you think...<br />I am afraid that I am a bit rusty when it comes to&nbsp; kids' social interaction and I fear I won't be able to help Maya when she will be older...<br />I want her to have friends, girl friends like I had when I was her age and to enjoy their friendship...<br />Oh, when it became life this complicated for a five years old?<br /><br /><br /><br />Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-20402582485060316632011-12-31T18:39:00.000+02:002012-01-01T10:55:12.387+02:00Looking Back to 2011 - The Movies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6SRa7UeKO9w/Tv8uDRZAn8I/AAAAAAAABUg/9jBJ6EoKcGw/s1600/imagesfgf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6SRa7UeKO9w/Tv8uDRZAn8I/AAAAAAAABUg/9jBJ6EoKcGw/s1600/imagesfgf.jpg" /></a></div><br />Instead of making new year resolutions I thought it would make a nice change if I'll write about the defunct year, 2011, in retrospective. About the things we loved in 2011, about things we did, all in all about what deserves to be mentioned, about memories that pay&nbsp;to be cherished and put away for safe keeping.<br />First things that pops into my mind are <em>the movies we enjoyed in 2011</em> (even if it wasn't the year they were produced).<br />I have to start with the last<strong> Harry Potter</strong> movie, I loved it and in a sense it closed a circle for me, giving me the&nbsp;feeling of content. It was an end worth of all the other movies and books and the feelings I invested in them. But I don't think I have to tell you about this movie, I think it met everbody's expectations and it signified, in a sense, the end of an era.<br /><br />There is&nbsp;another movie - a documentary, to be exact, that leads in our preferences (mine and Maya's). I watched it first, it was a late night broadcast, and I remember with clarity. I was feeling very poorly at that moment, and having a panic attack when I came upon the documentary and it literally pulled me out from my of desperation and pain. Then, the next morning (as&nbsp;I recorded it) we watched it with Maya and she loved it so much it became part of our household. We are still watching it at least once a week (sometimes several times) and we haven't grown bored yet. It is, of course,&nbsp;<strong>"Babies</strong>", the documentary that follows one year in the life of four babies in Namibia, Japan, Mongolia and&nbsp;the United States of America. If you haven't seen it yet, I strongly recommend it, it is sweet and interesting, fascinating&nbsp;and exciting&nbsp;like films about babies usually are.<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1vupEpNjCuY" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br />We also discovered 3D movies. I must say that even I, as an adult, enjoyed the experience and I am always looking forward to see another one. Up until now we watched "Kung- Fu Panda 2" and&nbsp;"Puss in Boots".<br /><br />For me, personally, it was the year of&nbsp; TV series. I discovered I didn't have the patience for full lenght movies, so I went for the shorter ones. There were many TV series, old and new, that kept me awake at night. I am talking about "<strong>Teenage Wolf</strong>", "<strong>Being Human</strong>" (the British original series), "<strong>Falling Skies"</strong> - waiting patiently&nbsp;for the second series, "<strong>Terra Nova</strong>" and of course, "<strong>The Walking Dead</strong>" - loved it.<br />I also loved watching for the millionth time British sitcoms, like <strong>"Keeping Up Appearances"</strong> - my favourite,<strong> "Hi-de-Hi"</strong> - another great one, <strong>"My Family "</strong> and such.<br /><br />What were your favourites for 2011?<br /><br />Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-21239011135374346072011-12-29T22:30:00.002+02:002011-12-29T22:30:42.806+02:00So Annoyingly AnnoyingIt is past ten o'clock in the evening, Maya is asleep, my husband too, even Dasha the cat is napping somewhere in the house...No television, because there is some technical malfunction and the cable TV stopped working in our building...so only some soft lullabies on the CD player...<br />I leave the comfort and softness of my bed (and Cassandra Clare's "The Clockwork Prince") to work on my book...the house is quiet and I began my tedious work of editing...but...wait...what the heck is that? Only my (deaf) neighbour listening to the radio FULL volume. I mean full - full because I hear with clarity the broadcast.<br />I absolutely hate my neighbours, I am sorry to say that. I mean the ones that live above us...They are a middle-aged posh know it all type that don't give a fart about others...Sometimes they go out at night and live the radio blasting till the wee hours of the morning, sometimes they have guests and move around their furniture all night long...all king of annoying stuff...<br />And it put me off any intellectual activity because I am not able to concentrate as I am hearing the blah-blah-blah from the blasted radio.<br />So, it this another lesson I need to learn? Maybe, buy some earplugs and get the work done?<br />Believe me, I would've liked to be in bed, snug and warm, but I can write only at night...well, cannot, obviously, not today...<br />OK, I think I have my MP3 player somewhere...and it has earphones...I could try...but I don't like not being able to listen to Maya's sleeping noises...I am so annoyed now I will stop writing this post because I don't want to say something I'll regret later (and maybe I'll go and have a word with my neighbour)...Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-76841686959472395132011-12-29T17:06:00.001+02:002011-12-29T17:16:19.482+02:00When we're young we dream about moving mountains, about changing the world...But as we grew older, we understand that not each and every one of us has the tenacity to do it, to finish what one started...to be strong enough to overcome whatever life put in your way of fulfiling your dreams.<br />I ask myself if I am young enough to be alowed to continue dreaming...or am I too old for it?<br />When do you stop and aknowledge defeat?<br /><br />While I was writing this I was also making myself a cup of coffee - espresso machine. Of course I was so deep in thoughts I forgot about it and when I ran to the kitchen the coffee was spilling from the cup...so...my cup runneth over...is it a sign?&nbsp;Is the Universe trying to tell me something?<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SdAFAlo_ofk/TvyEHpEb2yI/AAAAAAAABUI/MrCF-hOqClw/s1600/a_cup_of_love_2_by_junkarlo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SdAFAlo_ofk/TvyEHpEb2yI/AAAAAAAABUI/MrCF-hOqClw/s320/a_cup_of_love_2_by_junkarlo.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>&nbsp;Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-73210482856847082722011-12-29T17:00:00.000+02:002011-12-31T16:57:12.275+02:00No New Year Resolutions for Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GWz-PzP6B2c/Tv78cx6_9aI/AAAAAAAABUU/lFi2Vk3Y3X0/s1600/No-new-year-resolution-640x480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GWz-PzP6B2c/Tv78cx6_9aI/AAAAAAAABUU/lFi2Vk3Y3X0/s320/No-new-year-resolution-640x480.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />I am very tired today...last night I didn't sleep much...Maya fell and cut her upper lip pretty badly and at some point during the night when I checked on her she had blood around her mouth. I think at some point her wound opened while she was asleep. I was so scared when I saw her...I cleaned her up and she opened up her eyes for a second only to fell asleep in the blink onfg an eye....but afterwards I was so wired up I couldn't sleep myself. I kept checking on her, she slept soundlessly and she was fine. But you know me, I panicked...Anyhow, here in Israel the New Year is not celebrated like in christian countries and tomorow is a working day, so I am looking forward&nbsp;to an early night, maybe some television , a good book and a cup of tea. We had a celebratory lunch instead of the usual dinner and I thought about my family, they are gathered at my brother's house in Romania and having&nbsp;a blast. I miss them so much it hurts!<br />So, for a million reasons and some, I am not going for New Year resolutions this year. I never follow through anyway and I end up felling a failure...<br />But, there are certain things that come to my mind when I think about the upcoming&nbsp;year...&nbsp;I definitely need to laugh more and even when I don't have reasons, I have to make them...you know, like create my own private jokes, to last me through good and bad. <br />I also need to be a better person, definitely. A better mother, a better wife, a better friend, sister, daughter...well, it is dificult when your family is half a world away, but I will try.<br />And of course, I need to finish my book. This is essential for me. Don't ask me way...that's the way I feel.<br />In the end, I think&nbsp;I have to simply&nbsp;LIVE, to enjoy each moment that&nbsp;I was granted,&nbsp;to be thankful for every morning I open my eyes to&nbsp;(sunny or not), for the good things I have in life, for the people that I call my family, for my friends (close or far away).<br />So, a Happy New Year my dear&nbsp;friends, the best year ever, filled with happines, joy, laughter and good deeds!<br /><br />Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-31424268150053122002011-12-25T20:19:00.003+02:002011-12-26T09:38:03.465+02:00The Best Christmas Ever<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NdKDRVKck7s/TvdyD4q6WzI/AAAAAAAABRI/hksbY5ahq3s/s1600/P1030485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NdKDRVKck7s/TvdyD4q6WzI/AAAAAAAABRI/hksbY5ahq3s/s320/P1030485.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span id="goog_1671749443"></span><span id="goog_1671749444"></span><br /><br />If you've been reading my blog for, lets say, more than one year, you'd know by now that I get very-very depressed around major holidays, as I miss my family and my home country.<br />It is very hard to let go of thinks you are familiar with and&nbsp;memories and traditions you love and cherish, so Chirstmas here in Israel it has been a&nbsp;struggle, especially in the past years.<br />So, this&nbsp;year it came as a HUGE, and I mean IMENSE surprise, as my husband took me&nbsp;to a trip to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazareth" target="_blank">Nazareth</a>, for the Christmas Eve. It was an organised trip, so it has a guide and that way was easier to find the attractions and not get lost in the old city.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TKoTBgjJNVU/TvgipS06oVI/AAAAAAAABTY/DO96Q5YDYVY/s1600/pilgrimage2_2086583b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TKoTBgjJNVU/TvgipS06oVI/AAAAAAAABTY/DO96Q5YDYVY/s320/pilgrimage2_2086583b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />To my surprise, Nazareth was dressed for Christmas all right. It was actually the first time since I've been living here that I saw Christmas decorations in an israeli city, complete with a huge decorated fir tree, street lights, decorated shops and people and kids sporting red Santa hats.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xLVtViE6kc8/Tvgi0XWKwbI/AAAAAAAABTk/T_j0iio2ZT8/s1600/annunciation-nazareth2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xLVtViE6kc8/Tvgi0XWKwbI/AAAAAAAABTk/T_j0iio2ZT8/s320/annunciation-nazareth2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />We visited the beautiful Basilica of the Announciation (the Roman catholic one), I was there before , some 14 years ago when I was traveling the country and writing my book about&nbsp;Israel. I loved thae Basilica then and I admired once again the different&nbsp;renditions of the Virgin Mary. My favourite is the Japanese one...it is so refreshing to see that for them, the Virgin Mary was...well...very similar to a Japanese woman,&nbsp;as for baby Jesus...Japanese as well. But the&nbsp;piece of art&nbsp;was really exquisite, as well as other ones, like the Black&nbsp;Polish Mary, or the Indian one...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f76pYN5TdBs/Tvgi6sfRdXI/AAAAAAAABTw/DnAUKdZUZyQ/s1600/APA1643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f76pYN5TdBs/Tvgi6sfRdXI/AAAAAAAABTw/DnAUKdZUZyQ/s320/APA1643.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><br />I cannot tell you how happy I was to be there, soaking up the festive atmosphere...We watched the Christmas parade and the fireworks and listened to carols in Arabic...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PVZGHvlr1dA/TvgjC7vRrPI/AAAAAAAABT8/Nf56_1GhhrE/s1600/nananana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PVZGHvlr1dA/TvgjC7vRrPI/AAAAAAAABT8/Nf56_1GhhrE/s320/nananana.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />The only drawback was that the trip was a no-kids one, so Maya had to stay at home...But she was pretty happy, as&nbsp;her brother and his girlfriend babysat her&nbsp; - and she adores both of them, and she ate ice-cream and chocolates and God knows what else, because when we finally returned home, somewhere around 9 o'clock in the evening, we found her as high as a kite, on sweets and sisterly love...But I promised myself as I hugged her and kissed her sweaty curls that next year we'll go together...<br /><br />(The pictures that accompany this post aren't mine, for some reason I cannot upload my own from my computer to the blog, they all come up garbled...if anyone has any idea how to fix this, I would be happy to know it...)Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-2999721664101738262011-12-20T17:20:00.000+02:002011-12-20T17:29:49.894+02:00Happy Hanukkah !<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P71TiLNPT1Y/TvCpHTGtX1I/AAAAAAAABQk/s-lUuADdat0/s1600/P1030471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P71TiLNPT1Y/TvCpHTGtX1I/AAAAAAAABQk/s-lUuADdat0/s320/P1030471.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br />This evening Hanukkah begins, so it is the time for doughnuts, chocolate coins and of course, the candles in the hanukkiah. I think deep inside in each child lives a pyromaniac...<br /><br />Happy Hanukkah!<br /><br />Maya celebrated it today at the kindy and it was lots of fun...From all the Jewish holidays , it is my favourite one...<br /><br /><br /><br />Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-39201949124614235702011-12-12T09:24:00.001+02:002012-04-13T18:16:31.271+02:00She is My Guardian Angel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AAQrdtQhuJo/TuW4oVjI6pI/AAAAAAAABQQ/CKHNSvnwez8/s1600/GuardianAngel1d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AAQrdtQhuJo/TuW4oVjI6pI/AAAAAAAABQQ/CKHNSvnwez8/s320/GuardianAngel1d.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><br /><br />Today I am going to tell you about a very special person...I am calling her my guardian angel, and you know what, I really believe she is one...People like her are oh, so rare, and I consider myself blessed for meeting&nbsp; her.<br />I met Agy more than 15 years ago, back in Romania. I was a young career woman and single mother, struggling with life in a new , post-communist Romania. She was my cleaning lady...Well, that was in the beginning...because, in time, she became my friend, my confessor, she took care of me, cooked meals for my son and waited for&nbsp;me when I came from work exhausted, with a cup of coffee and an understanding ear. Only one year my senior she was like a mother to me because she has wisdom beyond her age. She was my sister because she has a true, tender and loving heart and she knows how to listen. Truly listen. She was my best friend because she wasn't afraid to tell me the truth even if she knew it would hurt and then it was there to wipe my tears.<br />After I left Romania and come to live in Israel she stayed there and took care of my "affairs" (I have an apartment that I rent) and then she "adopted" my mother-in-law and became her friend and helper and guardian angel until the her last days...When my mother in law passed away,&nbsp;Agy was there and not her son,&nbsp;and she made the funeral arangements and now she is the one that goes to the cemetery and lights a candle on her grave...<br />Twice a year, on Easter and Christmas she sends us presents, each summer when we travel to Romania, she is there and takes care of everything for me, gives me one of her mobile phones, brings me flyers for take-aways and does my washing, take us fishing and spends hours entertaining Maya, which adores her.<br />And she is like this with everyone around her...<br />She is a simple woman, no higher education, no fancy life...just a simple, hard-working woman, and believe me, she works hard...but every person that knows her loves and respects her. Because she is honest, above all, and has a heart the size of a continent.<br />I consider myself lucky and I thank God for the day when our paths crossed because I know that He sent Agy to watch over me. She is an angel. And I love her.<br />The words are too poor to describe the depth of my thankfulness, to tell you more about the woman that touched our lives and made them better. <br />I am just telling this: Thank you Agy, from the bottom of my heart. I love you.<br />And this song is for you:<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2GuX-F08fwI" width="420"></iframe>Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-68511341625195800162011-12-11T15:04:00.001+02:002011-12-12T08:23:27.104+02:00Red Sea in a Box<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y4EAWVJnaHY/TuWdMvTQyLI/AAAAAAAABQA/DMF2bRQCYyM/s1600/P1030422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y4EAWVJnaHY/TuWdMvTQyLI/AAAAAAAABQA/DMF2bRQCYyM/s320/P1030422.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">We had a quiet Saturday at home, with Friday's alarm and rockets and me still feeling green around the gills. And so I had a daughter to entertain. And because last week we had a trip to Eilat - I know, I didn't say, I wanted to, but with the food poisoning and stuff&nbsp;I wasn't in the mood but I'll put some pictures, I promise - as I was saying, because of Eilat we did a<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> "Red Sea in a box" kind of craft, from playdough. It came out surprisingly nice and Maya took it today to the kindy to show it to the kids...</span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kskB-MxF9lE/TuWdnBmlF4I/AAAAAAAABQI/Z53LI8GfNio/s1600/P1030427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kskB-MxF9lE/TuWdnBmlF4I/AAAAAAAABQI/Z53LI8GfNio/s320/P1030427.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />Have a nice and quiet week!<br /><br />Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-44722567200876878492011-12-10T12:13:00.001+02:002011-12-10T13:00:24.299+02:00Do You Want to Lose More Than Six Pounds in Two Days ? - Try This DietNo, no, no...I am just kidding...Don't try this...In fact, don't ever do what I did...<br />never- ever, promise?<br />But I made you curious, didn't I? What kind of wonder diet would it allow you<br />to lose this amount of weight in two days? Well...to end the suspense,let me tell <br />you :<br />FOOD POISONING!!!<br />Yep, that what I've got...<br />It was was I deserved, really, as I went on Wednesday to the weekly open market <br />and bought some snacks to munch on...Rule number one: Never buy food that is <br />presented on open stalls in markets...In Israeli markets they have this tables <br />where they put huge quantities of different varieties of roasted and salted nuts, <br />and everybody comes and takes a handfull and shove them into their months...<br />only God know hows many germns are there lurking on the snacks...So I was <br />stupid and I fell into the sin of glutony and I paid the price...Believe me, I paid <br />it dearly...I was so sick I thought (honestly) that I would die. I couldn't eat&nbsp; or <br />drink anything (only sips of mint tea and my daughter's rehydration solution) because I couldn't keep anything in...After the trips to the toilet ended, on Thursday night, I think, I was feeling so weak I barely could stand...but I managed to sleep a bit and on Friday morning I began to fell better. Now it is Saturday morning and I am still shaky and my bum is awfully sore (don't laught, it is the truth!). I am grateful to God that it ended and I am still alive but my goodness, I thought I would die. Apart from the obvious digestive problems my body hurt, all my muscles and bones and I thought my head wouls explode...<br />So, rest assured, from now on I will think twice about where to buy and what to buy...I don't usually do what I did last Wednesday...but, as you can see...you don't pay attention once and you pay the price thousandfold...<br />So now you know the story behind the 6 pounds that I lost in two days...and don't do like me...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s9Xok7SNtE8/TuM4Pnh6DQI/AAAAAAAABM0/T2g1jtwzcPY/s1600/food-market-israel-560x372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" mda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s9Xok7SNtE8/TuM4Pnh6DQI/AAAAAAAABM0/T2g1jtwzcPY/s320/food-market-israel-560x372.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And yes, everything looks colorful and nice...but I say, be aware of taking chances when you buy...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(the picture is from the the <a href="http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/09/eating-habits/" target="_blank">green prophet</a> site)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-1550054657574546392011-12-06T15:35:00.001+02:002011-12-06T16:11:42.299+02:00Saint Nicholas in (the) Rubber Boots<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-00Cvoxc-rlM/Tt4gugMh2lI/AAAAAAAABMs/EwAw7mZpEqY/s1600/img-thing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-00Cvoxc-rlM/Tt4gugMh2lI/AAAAAAAABMs/EwAw7mZpEqY/s1600/img-thing.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />When we were kids in poor, communist Romania, on Saint Nicholas Eve we used to put our boots on the windowsill and wait for presents. They were usually sweets and oranges, a book or some crayons...but the joy was unmeasurable. It meant so much for us...<br />Now, here, in Israel, I try to put together a holiday, to built a tradition for my daughter. We don't have a windowsill as windows are different in our apartment and only rubber boots for the rainy season but my daughter's smile was worth more than I invested. Her joy was my&nbsp;joy as a mother and&nbsp;the child in my soul was happy&nbsp;with and for her.<br />As I said before, it is not easy to&nbsp;be different in Israel, but this is what I know, what I grew up with, this is what my souls resonates to...I do my best to offer my daughter my heritage and also to let her learn the ways of this country,&nbsp;and let her be to one to choose for herself. I just hope I'll have the strenght to stand for her whatever she chooses...&nbsp; <br /><br />Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7387984571168100978.post-26704795233003056482011-11-23T09:23:00.001+02:002011-11-23T09:37:11.614+02:00Cool Craft - Recyclable Noah's Ark<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C5lfn6Rx7ZA/TsyfYFB1ebI/AAAAAAAABMc/DzB1aT28YQY/s1600/P1030342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C5lfn6Rx7ZA/TsyfYFB1ebI/AAAAAAAABMc/DzB1aT28YQY/s320/P1030342.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a project we've been working at as a family. Maya and her daddy started it and because my husband is very short on free time, I helped Maya finish it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is for the kindy and it has to be from recycled materials, ours is from a milk carton and a shoe box. We drew inspiration from here: <a href="http://www.mssscrafts.com/crafts/noahsark/" target="_blank">Milk Carton Noah's Ark</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What I liked about our project it is that it looks like it's done by a five year old kid, with a bit of help. The other arks I saw at the kindy where magnificent works of art, obviously done by the parents. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How do you feel about it? When you kid has to do a project for school, do you work with her/him, encourage them or you simply do the prtoject for them because "I don't have time for this stuff".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JcVz4KqfYK0/TsygRtAJF8I/AAAAAAAABMk/d8geu9Ifu5w/s1600/P1030339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JcVz4KqfYK0/TsygRtAJF8I/AAAAAAAABMk/d8geu9Ifu5w/s320/P1030339.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And of course, my sweet baby is case showing our work. Love you, princess!</div>Alone in Holy Landhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117747490042171507noreply@blogger.com1